Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Education
Major
Educational Practice
Date of Defense
7-15-2026
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Marvin Berkowitz
Co-Advisor
Dr. Melinda BIer
Committee
Dr. Marvin Berkowitz
Dr. Melida Bier
Dr. Thomas Hoer
Dr. Andrea Bustamante
Abstract
Abstract
Character education is widely recognized as an essential component of schooling; however, it lacks a coherent framework that draws on the shared conceptual ground underlying the current dominant frameworks. This qualitative study systematically compared three influential character education frameworks: Character.org’s 11 Principles for Schools, the Jubilee Centre’s Framework for Character Education in Schools, and PRIMED for Character Education. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which these frameworks converge and diverge in their conceptualizations of effective character education and to assess the feasibility of integrating their cross-cutting elements into an integrated framework. Using thematic analysis and thematic synthesis, this study analyzed the three frameworks through researcher coding, AI-assisted secondary coding using ChatGPT 5.1, and expert informant consultation. Findings revealed substantial conceptual alignment across the three frameworks despite differences in emphasis and terminology. Shared commitments were categorized under four structural components: Foundational Principles, Core Design Principles, Values/Virtues Emphasized, and Implementation Focus. The synthesis of these findings resulted in the development of the Integrated Framework for Character Education (IFCE), a conceptual framework built on this common bedrock rather than on the full range of each framework's individual contributions. The IFCE offers educators, school leaders, and policymakers a coherent and adaptable framework for advancing character education in diverse educational contexts. The study contributes to the field by identifying the conceptual common ground shared across three of its most influential character education frameworks.
Recommended Citation
Borrero, Liliana, "Toward an Integrated Framework for Character Education: A Comparative Analysis of Character.org’s 11 Principles, the Jubilee Centre Character Education Framework for Schools, and PRIMED for Character Education" (2026). Dissertations. 1606.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1606
Included in
Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Other Education Commons, Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons